Recca was watching from the door and couldn't keep quiet any longer. "Your decision to surrender wasn't exactly a long and thoughtful process," she said from the door. "The battle can't have been going for too long... the city isn't destroyed enough yet. And yet you speak of surrender already?"

Then she turned to Ryk, who stood with her just outside the door and answered his question. "The Council despises me for the wisdom of my words and that this wisdom comes from one so young. I was exiled four years ago and have only returned because of the battle."